Capping-machine.



F. MUELLER & G. W. GWINN.

CAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.14,1905.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

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E'. MUELLER & G. W. GWINN.

GAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 14, 1905.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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GAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.14, 1905.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNTTE STATES PATENT OFFICE..

FELIX MUELLER AND GEORGE W. GWINN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS TO STAND- ARD STOPPER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CAPPING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 14, 1905.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910. Serial No. 241,136.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FELLX MUELLER, a subject of the German Emperor, and GEORGE l/V. GwINN, a citizen of the United States, and both residents of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Capping- Machines, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in capping machines.

In attaching caps to receptacles, and more particularly to receptacles of earthenware and glass, it is desirable that the capping die shall be constructed so as to allow for variations in the size of the mouth of the receptacles to which the caps are to be attached and variations in the shape of the mouth of said receptacles, since it often happens that glass receptacles intended to be uniform in size will vary considerably and will also be irregular in outline even when made with the same tools.

Machines have been heretofore employed for capping bottles in which the capping die was conical in form, the bottle carrying the cap being caused, in the operation of the machine, to enter the cone shaped recess in the die, the theory of the operation of these machines being that the bottles will enter the die different distances according as the diameter of the mouths of the bottles varies. In the practical operation of these machines, however, it is ditlicult to regulate with exactness the distance which bottles having different sized necks shall enter the die, and it happens, therefore, that in the use of these machines bottles are frequently broken. Furthermore, every point in the walls of the cone lying in a plane at right angles to its axis is equally distant from that axis, so that when a bottle having an irregular mouth is introduced into the die, it happens that greater pressure will necessarily be brought on some parts of the bottle than on others, this variation in pressure at different points around the mouth of the bottle also tending to break the bottle.

A construction has been suggested in which the cone-shaped die is formed ot' sections, the sections being held together by a flexible band, the theory of this construction being that the flexible band will permit the die members to shift somewhat so as to take care of the irregularities which occur in bottles. This construction, permits, however, only of a very limited degree of Inovement of the parts of the die, is open to the objection that it is ditiicult to control the distance which bottles having diii'erent diameters of mouths shall enter the die, and has not gone into practical use. Other forms of capping dies have been employed, the dies being constructed of sections which move inward after the article to be capped has .come within the range of action of the sections to force the flange of the cap to be applied beneath the shoulder on the receptacle. Vith these constructions, however, the movement of the sections has been pros duced by a mechanism which is positive 1n its action, so that variations in the diameters of the mouths of the receptacles to be capped are not automatically compensated for.

The present invention has for one of its objects to produce a capping mechanism employing a die made up of sections in which a movement of the sections, which will increase the area inclosed by the operating faces of the die, is permitted during the capping operation.

A further object of the invention is to produce a capping mechanism which employs a capping die made up of a plurality of sections which are permitted to have a movement during the capping operation to compensate for irregularities or variations in the diameter of the mouths of the articles to be capped, and in which releasing means is employed for positively releasing the die sections after a capping operation is completed, so as to permit the capped article to be readily withdrawn.

A further object of the invention is to produce an improved capping die for use in capping mechanisms which shall be provided with means by which the die can be readily cleared in case the throat formed by the die sections becomes choked.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and eilicient capping' mechanism which shall be cheap to construct and which may be readily operated by unskilled labor.

lVith these and other objects not specifically referred to in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and in certain parts, improvements and combinations as will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

Referring to the drawingsFigure 1 represents in front elevation a form of capping mechanism embodying the invention, certain parts being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of the construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is an elevation on an enlarged scale, of the capping head construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the casing inclosing said capping head being shown in section. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a verticall section of the construction shown in Fig. 3, and Fig. G is a section similar to Fig. 5, but showing the parts in a different position.

Referring to the Adrawings which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, 1 indicates a base on which the operating parts are mounted, this base being of course varied in its construction and shape according to the particular form of mechanism which may be employed for carrying the invention into effect. In the' particular construction shown, the base serves to support a driving shaft 2, said shaft being provided with any suitable driving means, as, for instance, a pulley 3. In the preferred construction and as shown, this pulley will be loosely mounted on the shaft and will be connected thereto by what is known as a single' revolution clutch, that is to say, a clutch which permits the shaft when the pulley has been clutched thereto, to make a single revolution, after which the clutch is thrown out, so that the pulley runs loose on the shaft. This single revolution clutch is a well-known mechanical device and any suitable form of it may be employed. Inasmuch, however, as a description of the clutch would in no wise conduce to an understanding of the present invention, specific illustration of the clutch has been omitted, the clutch being simply indicated at 4 and being shown as under the control of a spring pin 5 having mounted thereon an operating pin 6.

The means by which the parts of the machine are controlled in their operation may be varied widely and will vary according to the particular type of mechanism employed in carrying out the invention. The operation of the machine illustrated is controlled by a treadle mounted on a rock shaft 8 suitably supported in the base, this rock shaft having an arm, not shown, which operates on the pin 6.

1n a complete capping machine embodying the invention, means will be provided for supporting the article to be capped, and such a machine will also include mechanism by which a relative movement between the support and the capping die may be effected to bring the article to be capped into the range of action of the die. While this might be effected by moving either the die or the support7 or both, in the construction selected to illustrate the invention, the support alone is moved, the die being stationary. lNhen the invention is embodied in a machine employing a moving support for the receptacle to be capped, the construction of the support and the means for moving it may be of any desired construction. ln the construction shown by way of illustration, the support includes a plunger' 9, said plunger, in the construction shown, being provided with an elastic pad 10 on which the article to be capped rests. The plunger, in the construction shown, is provided with a stem 11 which enters a guide in a driving head 12, this head being operated from a crank rod 18 which is pivoted to the head and to a crank pin 14 on a crank disk 15, said disk being mounted on the shaft Q. A spring 16 may be introduced between the driver and the plunger, said spring permitting the driver to have, under the infiuence of the crank mechanism described, a certain degree of upward movement without moving the plunger, the purpose of this construction being, as is well understood in the art, to allow the machine to operate upon receptacles varying in vertical height. The driver is provided with a shoulder 17 which operates against the end of a nut 18 screwed into a plunger, this construction operating to effect a positive downward movement of the plunger' after a capping` operation has taken place. The plunger and its driving mechanism are shown as in-4 cased in a standard 19, the upper end of which is formed to provide a table 2O on which the receptacles to be capped or the re# ceptacles that have been capped may rest.

The capping die, while it may be varied widely in its details of construction, will comprise a plurality of movable sections or jaws, these sections being marked 21 in the drawings. Thile the operating faces of these sections may be given Vany suitable configuration, in the construction shown, these operating faces, which are marked 22, are sections of a cylinder so that the space inclosed thereby is cylindrical in shape, as distinguished from the dies having cone shaped interiors heretofore employed. The edges of these sections at the entrance or mouth of the die may, if desired, be slightly beveled or chamfered off, as indicated at 225, this construction being common in capping dies of various descriptions, its purpose being to prevent any shearing action of the die on the iiange of the cap as the cap enters the die.

The die sections will be normally held in operative position, z'. c., the cap applying position, and so held as to permit them to expand when necessary in order to increase or vary the position of the sections or the area of the space inclosed by the die, the purpose of this increase in area being to provide for the capping of receptacles having mouths of varying diameters or irregular in contour. The die sections will preferably be guided in their movement, the guide employed being of any suitable construction and varying in construction according to the character of the movement which the die sections have. As shown, the guide includes a plate Q-lon which the die sections rest, this plate having an annular opening therein through which the articles to be capped pass into the die, this annular opening being made large enough to permit the entry of the articles having the greatest diameter on which the machine is intended to ope ate and their caps.

The means referred to by which the sections are held in position and which permit them to expand so as to incre-ase the area inclosed by the operating Afaces oit' the die, may be varied widely in construction. As shown, a series of bell-crank levers Q5, 2G are employed, there being preferably one of these levers for each of the die sections, and the arms Q6 of these levers resting in recesses formed in the sections. In the articular construction shown, these bell-crank levers 25, 2G are pivoted on pins 27 which pins rest in recesses QS lying between outer ears 29 and inner ears 30, which ears extend from a central block 3l. The recesses Q8 are formed on a curve, as clearly appears in Fig. 4l, and the outer ears 2S) are wider than the inner ears 30. The ears 29, 30 extend down to and rest upon the guiding plate 24, and the adjacent ears are cut out, as appears in Fig. 3, so that they forno additional guiding means for the jaws The pins are held in position by a plate 32 which has depending lugs 33 which pass down on each side of the tops of the levers 95, 20 and rest upon the pins. rlhis plate is further held in position by a nut 31twhich is threaded onto the upper portion of the block 3l.

In the preferred construction, an abutment will be provided which operates to limit the distance which the article to be capped can be :forced into or through the die sections. lfVhile this abutment may be provided in any suitable way, in the construction shown it is formed by a circular plate 35 which is formed on a bolt 36, this bolt passing' through and being supported in position by a block or plate 37. This block or plate 37 is supported and held in position by means off screws 3S tapped into the casing 39 in which the capping die mechanism as a whole is contained. The bolt 36 is shown as provided with a nut l0 and this bolt and abutment 35 serve to maintain in position the block 3l in which `the levers 25, 26 are mounted.

YVhcn levers such as the levers 25, Q0 are employed for actuating the die sections, suitable operating means will be mfovided for these levers, and this means will be of such a character as to permit a rocking movelnent oit the levers on their pivots whenever it is desired that the die sections shall move outward. lVhile these means may be of any suitable character, in the preferred construction, they will embody a spring. ln the particular construction illustrated, the spring which operates the lever is marked 4l. This spring rests upon an operating plate which has a downward extending llange i3 which overlies the arms .25 of the bell-crank levers 25, 2G. The plate #l2 may be supported in any desired manner, but in the preferred construction it will be mounted in such a manner as to permit it to be moved toward and away Yfrom the levers at proper times to permit the force ol the spring atl times to be ell'cctive on the levers and at other times to permit the levers to be :free from the spring. ln the construclion shown, there is provided a carrier member .let having an outwardly turned [lange 'l5 on which the plate rests. '.lhis carrier melnber is, as shown, generally tubular in form and is guided in its movement b v a lillingI block -itt which surrounds the bolt 3G. rlbe spring el-'l will preferably be normally held, under tension, this being ell'ected in the particular construction shown by providing a nut t7 which is threaded onto the lop ol the carrier member Ltft. The spring rests on the plate ft2 which is in turn suppr'irted by the outwardly turned [lange i-5, the upper end of the spring bearingagainst the not -l-T. ly adjusting the nut, the tension under which the spring' is held may be marital as desired. Alin the particular construction shown, the bell-crank levers Q5. 2t? are rcleased 'from the action of the spring between successive capping operationsv` the position of the parts between capping operations being indicated in Fig.

lVhen it is desired to operate the capping' die to apply a cap to a bottle or other receptacle, the force of the spring is brought to bear upon the die sections through the levers or such other suitable means as may be selected to operate the sections. lVhile the means for bringing the spring into operative relation with respect to the bell-crank levers Q5, 2G may be varied widely. in the particular construction shown. there is provided a rotating block `/l-S having retassesl in which are located balls 49. rlhese balls underlie cams 50 which are fornied on the underside o'f the block or plate 3T. rllhe rotating bloc\V lS is journaled on the filling block 40 and has a combined rotating and reciprocating niovcment with respect to this bloc t. The .lower edge of the block -l-S rests on a washer 5l. which washer in turn rests upon a series of balls 52 which are located in a recess in the upper end of the carrie-r member 44, the bottom of this recess being formed by a projection 53 extending inwardly from the carrier member. ln the construction shown, the balls 52 rest upon a washer 54, the washer resting upon the projection Surrounding the block 4G is a sarinO said sarin bearing at one of its ends against the inwardly extending projection 53 and at its other end against the nut 34. With this construction it is apparent that if the block 48 is rotated, the balls 49 will travel under the cam 50 and force the block 48 downward. This in turn will force the carrier member 44 downward, the plate 42 moving with it. This movement of the plate causes the lower edge of its flange 43 to strike the arms 25 of the bell crank levers 25, 26, and thus to produce a rocking movement of these levers which forces the sections Q2 inward to their fullest extent. The parts will preferably be so proportioned that the movement of the block 48 and the carrier member will continue after the die sections have moved inward to their fullest extent, so as to bring the flange 45 of the carrier member below and clear of the plate 42, this position of the parts being clearly indicated in Fig. 6. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 6, therefore, the die members will be yieldingly held in position by the action of the spring, and if sufficient force is exerted against the operating faces of the die sections, the die sections will slide outward, the levers 25, 26 rocking in a reverse direction against the tension of the spring as this action takes place.

The tension of the spring 41 will be so calculated as to hold the die sections in place with suflicient force to enable them to bend inward the flange of the cap to be applied by the die, but the force of the spring on the other hand will be so proportioned as to permit an outward movement of the die sect-ions sufliciently to compensate for irregularities and, within the limits, for varying sizes of bottles or other receptacles to be capped.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that, if a bottle having a mouth of proper size and formed on a circle corresponding with the circle of the flange of the cap be inserted into the die, the cap will be applied without any movement on the part of the sections of the die, this being due to the fact that the sections are normally held in operative position by the mechanism which has just been described. Tf, however', a bottle having a mouth of the same diameter and of generally circular form, although irregular in form, say, for instance, oval, be pushed up Vinto the die, certain movements of the die sections may take place according to the shape of the bottle mouth. If, for instance, a bottle having a mouth which is elliptical in shape be pushed up into the die, the minor diameter of the ellipse being equal to the diameter of the circle in which the operative faces of the die sections are normally held, then the die sections at the ends of the major diameter of the ellipse will move outward, while those die sections at the ends of the minor diameter will retain their position. If, again,'a bottle the mouth of which is in the shape of a true circle which is greater in diameter than the diameter of the circle in which the operating faces of the die sections lie when they are normally held in capping position, be pushed up into the die, then all the die sections will move outward. It appears, therefore, that in the construct-ion shown, none of the sections may move in the capping operation, all of them may move, or some of them may move, this being determined by the shape of the bottle to be capped. Further,- it will be noted that whenever any movement of the die sections takes place, it is always an outward movement, that is, a movement away from the center of the die.

After the capping operation has been completed, the block 48 is given a movement in a reverse direction, the effect of which is to permit the spring 55 which the carrier.

compressed in its downward movement, to expand, thus carrying the carrier member and the other parts of the device back into their initial position, that is, the position shown in Fig. 5.

The means for rotating the block 48 may be varied widely. As shown, this block carries a gear 56 which gear meshes with a gear 57 on a short vertical shaft 58 supported in the casing of the head. This shaft 58 has on its upper end a gear 59 which is in mesh with a gear 60, this gear being mounted on a long vertical shaft 61 which, in the particular construction shown, is illustrated as being contained in a hollow standard or casing 62 suitably supported in the machine casing. This shaft 61 is stepped in a sleeve 63, the shaft and sleeve being connected by a spline. The sleeve is supported in a bracket 64 and has an arm 65 extending therefrom. This arm 65 is connected by a link 66 to a rock arm 67 loosely mounted on the shaft 8 before referred to. The shaft 2 operates a cam 68 this cam being a closed cam and being shown as mounted on the crank disk 15 before described. The rock arm 67 is provided witha cam roller 69, this construction operating to give the rock arm an oscillating movement. `With this construction, it is apparent that each time the clutch is thrown into operation by the treadle 7, the shaft 2 will, through the crank connections previously described, operate to carry the bottle or other receptacle to be capped, up into the range of action of the die, and the die sections will be operated through the movement of the vertical shaft (31 and the parts connected therewith.

Means may be provided, if desired, to adjust the machine for bottles of different lengths. In the construction shown, this is effected by mounting the casing 39 of the head on the hollow standard or casing 62. This casing is slidingly supported in a long collar G2 which forms a part of the general machine casing. The casing 62 is provided with a tubular projection 7() through which passes a screw 7l, this screw being tapped through an opening` in the table 20 and being provided with a hand wheel 72. The bearing 73 for the upper end of the shaft 6l is rigidly connected to the hollow casino' G2. When, therefore, the hand wheel 72 1s turned, the casing 62 and the shaft will be moved vertically in one direction or the other, the splined connection between the shaft 69. and the sleeve (33 permitting' this movement.

lVhile the cap to be applied to the receptacle may be supported `in any desired manner, or carried on the receptacle itself, in the preferred construction, there will be provided a cap support which is located near the mouth of the throat formed by the operating faces of the die sections. The construction of this cap support may be varied widely. As shown, it consists of a plurality of segmental plates 74, these plates being supported on a nut 75 having a tapered opening therein which registers with the throat and being screwed into a ring 7G which is supported on a bracket 77 mounted on the tubular casing 62. The segmental plates are held in position by means of a spring 7S which surrounds their outer edges. The opening inclosed by the inner edges of the segmental plates is slightly smaller than the greatest diameter of t-he flange of the cap to be applied. In operating the machine, a cap is forced up through the opening in the segmental plates 74, the spring 7 8 yielding sufficiently to permit the cap to pass the plates, after which the plates return to their initial position, and the cap rests upon the upper surface of the plates as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The upward movement of the bottle or other receptacle to be capped carries the cap up into the throat and as the cap and bottle or other receptacle pass into the throat, the flange of the cap is bent under the shoulder on the bottle by the operating faces of the die sections. Attention is called to the fact that in the construction described, the bending of the cap flange is completed before the top of the cap strikes the under side of the abutment 35, the die acting both to draw the cap down into place and to bend the flange of the cap into locking position beneath the shoulder on the receptacle.

It may happen that the operator, after nishing the capping of a series of receptacles, will leave the machine with a cap in place, and when he returns to the machine, will force a second cap into place, so that there will be two caps resting on the cap support instead of one. This may result in seriously clogging the machine. Means are accordingly provided to permit the throat to be cleared whenever it is clogged for this or for any other reason. While these means may be varied, in the construct-ion shown, the abutment 85 has an opening SO therethrough, this opening extending up through the bolt 36 and also through the cap 8l which is shown as closing the top of the casing 39. lVith this construction a rammer or other suitable device may be pushed down through the opening to clear the throat from obstruction.

While the construction which has just been described is an exceedingly eflieient one for carrying the invention into effect, it is to be understood that the invention may be embodied in constructions which differ widely therefrom. The invention is not, therefore, to be restricted to the specific construction hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

VWhat is claimed is l. In a capping die, the combination with a plurality of sections, the acting faces of which form a. throat, of means for normally holding the sections in operative position, said means being constructed to permit a movement of the sections during the cap applying' operation to vary the position of the acting faces, and means for releasing the holding means after the applying operation is completed, substantially as described.

2. In a capping die, the combination with a plurality of sections, the acting faces of which form a throat, of a cap support located at the mouth of the throat, and means for normally holding the sections in operative position, said means being constructed to permit a movement of the sections during the cap applying operation to vary the position of the acting faces, substantially as described.

3. In a capping die, the-combination with a plurality of sections, the acting faces of which form a throat, of a cap support located at the mouth of the throat, means for normally holding the sections in operative position, said means being constructed to permit a movement of the sections during the cap applying operation to vary the position of the acting faces, and means for releasing the holding means after lthe applying operation is completed, substantially as described.

4. In a capping mechanism, the combination with a capping die having a plurality of sections, the acting faces of which form a throat, of means for holding the sections in operative position, said means being` constructed to permit a movement of the sections during the cap applying operation to vary the area inclosed by the acting faces, a support for the receptacle to be capped, means for producing a relative movement between the die and the support for the receptacle, and means for releasing the holding means after the applying operation is completed, substantially as described.

5. In a capping mechanism, the combination with a capping die having a plurality of sections, the acting faces of which form a throat, of a cap support located at the mouth of the throat, means for normally holding the sections in operative position, said means being constructed to permit a movement of the sections during the cap applying operation to vary the position of the acting faces, a support for the receptacle to be capped, and means for producing a relative movement between the die and the support for the receptacle, substantially as described.

6. In a capping mechanism, the combination with a capping die having a plurality of sections, the acting faces of which form a throat, of a cap support located at the mouth of the throat, means for normally holding the sections in operative position, said means being constructed to permit a movement of the sections during the cap applying operation to vary the position of the acting faces, a support for the receptacle to be capped, means for producing a relative movement between the die and the support for the receptacle, and means for releasing the holding means after the applying operation is completed, substantially as described.

7. In a capping die, the combination with a plurality of sections, the act-ing faces of which form a cylindrical throat, of spring controlled means for normally holding the sections in operative position, said means being constructed to permit a movement of the sections during the cap applying operation to vary the position of the acting faces, and releasing means for the holding means, substantially as described.

8. In a capping mechanism, the combination with a capping die having a plurality of sections, the acting faces of which form a cylindrical throat, of spring controlled means lfor norm-ally holding the sections in operative position, said means being constructed to permit a movement of the sections during the cap applying operation to vary the position of the acting faces, a cap support located at the mouth of the throat, a support for the receptacle to be capped, means for producing a relative movement between the capping die and receptacle support, and releasing means for the holding means, substantially as described.

9. In a capping mechanism, the combination with a capping die having a plurality of sections, the acting faces of which form a cylindrical throat, of means for normally holding the sections in operative position, said means being constructed to permit a straight line movement of the sect-ions toward and away from. the axis of the die, a support for the receptacle to be capped, and means for producing a relative movement between the die and support, substantially as described.

l0. In a capping mechanism, thecombination with a capping die having a plurality of sections, the acting faces of which form a cylindrical throat, of a cap support located at the mouth of the throat, means for normally holding the sections in operative position, said means being constructed to permit a straight line movement of the sections toward and away from the aXis of the die, a support for the receptacle te be capped, a-nd means for producing a relative movement between the die and support, substantially as described.

11. In a capping mechanism, the combination with a capping die having a plurality of sections, the acting faces of which form a cylindrical throat, of a cap support located at the mouth of the throat, means for normally holding the sections in operative position, said means being constructed to permit a straight line movement of the sections toward and away from the a-Xis of the die, a support for the receptacle to be capped, means for producing a relative movement between the die and support, and releasing means for the holding means, substantially as described.

l2. In a capping die, the combination with a plurality of sections, the acting faces of which form a throat, of guiding means for the sections, and means for normally holding the sections in operating position, said means including a spring controlled lever mechanism, whereby the sections are permitted to have a `movement during the cap applying operation to vary the position of the acting faces, substantially as described.

13. In a. capping die, the combination with a plurality of sections, the acting faces of which form a cylindrical throat, of a cap support located at the mouth of the throat, guiding means for the sections, means for normally holding the sections in operating position, saidy means including a spring controlled lever mechanism, whereby the sections are permitted to have a movement; during' the cap applying' operation to vary the position oit the acting faces, and releasing` means for the holding' means, substantially as described. i

14.. In a capping' mechanism, the combination with a die having a plurality ot' sections, the acting' faces ort' which 'torni a cylindrical throat, of a plurality ot levers, one for each section, spring` controlled operating' means for the levers, and means normally holding' the levers and jaws in opel.'- ative position, releasing'meaus 'for said operating' means, a support 't'or the receptacle to be capped, and means for Vljn'oducing a relative movement between the receptacle support and the die, substantially as described.

l5. In a capping' die, the combination with a plurality ot sections, the acting' Yt'aecs of which form a throat, ot a guiding' plate tor the sections, a plurality ot operating' lcvers, one tor each section, lever' actuating means, a spring' tor forcing' the actuating means into operative relation with the levers, and releasing` means tor rendering the spring' inoperative, substantially as described.

16. In a capping' mechanism, the combination with a capping' d ie having' a plurality of sections, the acting' taces oi' which torm a cylindrical throat, of a guiding' plate 'l'or the sections, a plurality oil operating' levers, one for each section, lever actuating` means, a spring' for forcing' the actuating means into operative relation with the levers, rclcasing' means for rendering` the spring' inoperative, a support t'or the receptacle to be capped, and means 'tor producing a relative movement between the support and the dic, substantially as described.

17. In ay capping' die, the combination with a plurality ot sections, the acting' .t'aces oi which form a throat, ot` means 'tor holding the sections in operative position, said means including' a spring' normally held under tension, means for increasing the tension of the spring', and releasing' means 'tor the holding' means, substantially as described.

1S. In a capping` die, the combination with a plurality ot' sections, the acting t'acesv ol" which form a cylindrical tln'oat, ot a plurality oit' operating' levers, actuatii'ig' means for the levers, said means including' a spring' normally held under tension, means ior increasing' the tension of the, spring, and releasing` means, substantially as described.

19. In a capping' mechanism, the combination with a capping' die having` a plurality of sections, the acting' t'aces ot which form a cylindrical throat, ot' a plurality ot operating' levers, actuating'v devices t'or the levers, said devices including' a spring normally held under tension, means At'or increas` ing' the tension of the spring, releasing means, a support for the receptacle to be capped, and means for producing' a relative movement between the support aud the die, substantially as described.

Q0. The combination with a capping' mechanisni, ot' a capping' die having a plurality ot sections, the acting' t'aces ol which term a cylindrical throat, operating levers 'l'or the sections, lever actuating' means including' a spring', a rotating' cam tor increasing the tension ot the spring', releasing' means, a support for the receptacle to be capped, and means 't'or producing' a relativo movement between the support and the die, substantially as described.

2l. lhe combination with a capping' mechanisin, oit' a capping die provided with a plurality ol. sections, the acting' Ytaces oit which .torni a cylindrical throat, actuating' levers for the sections, a spring' tor positioning the levers, au actuating calm tor increasing the tension oit the spring', a retractor tor freeing the levers :trom the action ot the spring, a support for the receptacle to be capped. and means tor producing a rclativc movement between the supporti and the die, substatitially as described.

22. The combination with a capping' meehanism, oi a capping' die provided with a plurality ot sections, the acting' tacos ot which form a cylint'lrical throat, a cap support at' the mouth ot' the throat, actuating' levers for the sections, a spring' :tor positioning the levers, an actuating' cam tor increasing' the tension ogt' the spring, a rctractor ior Vtrccing the levers l'rom the action o't the spring', a support .'t'or the receptacle to be capped, and means for producing' a relative movement between the support and the dic. substantially as described.

In a capping' mechanism, the combination with a capliing' die having a plurality ot sections, the acting' iaees ot which are arranged to form a throat, of guiding mean-l ;lor the sections, means for holding' the sections in operative position, said means permitting' a movement oit the sections away from the axis ot' the dic in order to var v 'the position ot' the sections, a support: 'l'or the receptacle to be capped, means tor producing' a relative movement between the die and the support, and a stationar i abutment operating' to determine the distance which the article to be capped shall entier the die, substantially as described.

ift-fl. In a capping' mechanism, the combination with a capping' die having' a plurality ot' sections, the acting' faces ot which are arranged to .term a throat, ot guiding` means tor the sections, means for holding the sections in opera tive position, said means perniitting' a movement ot the sections away trom the axis otE the die in ol'der to increase the area inclosed by the sections, a support tor the receptacle to be capped, means -tor producing a relative movement between the die and the support, and a stationary abutment operating to determine the distance which the article to be capped shall enter the die, said abutment having a perforation through which a clearing tool may be inserted, substantially as described.

25. n a capping mechanism, the combination with a capping die having a plurality of sections, the acting faces of which are arranged to form a throat, of guiding means for the sections, means for holding the sections in operative position, said means permitting a movement of the sections away from the axis of the die in order to increase the area inclosed by the sections, a support for the receptacle to be capped, means for producing a relative movement between the die and the support, a stationary abutment operating to determine the distance which the articles to be capped shall enter the die, said abutment having a perforation through which a clearing tool may be inserted, and releasing means for the die sections, substantially as described.

2G. ln a capping mechanism, the combination with a capping die having a plurality of sections, the acting faces of which are arranged to form a throat, of a cap support located at the mouth of the throat, guiding means for the sections, means for holding the sections in operative position,

' said means permitting a movement of the sections away from the axis of vthe die in order to increase the area inclosed by the sections, a support for the receptacle to be capped, means for producing a. relative movement between the die and the support, and a stationary abutment. operating to determine the distance which the articles to be capped shall enter the die, substantially as described.

27. In a capping mechanism, the combination with a capping die having a plurality of sections, the acting faces of which are arranged to form a throat, of a cap support located at the mouth of the throat, guiding means for the sections, means for holding the sections in operative position, said means permitting a movement of the sections away from the axis of the die in order to increase the area inclosed by the sections, a support for the receptacle to be capped, means for producing a relative movement between the die and the support, a stationary abutment operating to determine the distance which the articles to be capped shall enter the die, and releasing means for the die sections, substantially as described.

Q8. ln a capping mechanism, the combination with a capping die having a plurality of sections, the acting faces of which are arranged to form a throat, of a cap support located at the mouth of the throat, guiding means for the sections, means for holding the sections in operative position, said means permitting a movement of the sections away from the axis of the die in order to increase the area inclosed by the sections, a support for the receptacle to be capped, means for producing a relative movement between the die and the support, and a stationary abut ment operating to determine the distance which the articles to be capped shall enter the die, said abutment having a perforation through which a clearing tool may be inserted, substantially as described.

29. In a capping mechanism, the combination with a capping die having a plurality of sections, the acting faces of which are ar ranged to form a throat, of a cap support located at the mouth of the throat, guiding means for the sections, means for holding the sections in operative position, said means permitting a movement of the sections away from the axis of the die in order to increase the area inclosed by the sections, a support for the receptacle to be capped, means for producing a relative movement between the die and the support, a stationary abutment operating to determine the distance which the articles to be capped shall enter the die, said abutment having a perforation through 'which a clearing tool may be inserted, and releasing means for the die sections, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FELIX MUELLER. GEORGE W. GVVINN.

Vitnesses t J. A. GRAVES, A. 7i-UTE. 

